Chapter 2

Lyanna's POV

The moment I opened the door, I froze completely.

Standing outside was a woman so beautiful that I instantly lost the ability to speak. Her raven-black hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, her delicate features were flawless, and she possessed an elegant grace that was innate—something an ordinary Omega like me could never imitate.

Standing next to her, I suddenly felt so small.

"Hello." She smiled at me, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze. "You must be the lucky bride."

Bride? Why didn't she call me by name? She obviously knew who I was.

"I'm Lyanna." I tried to remain polite. "And you are...?"

"I'm Seraphina." Her smile was perfect, but somehow, there was something in her eyes that made me uncomfortable. "I heard about the Luna ceremony, so I came to see how the preparations were going."

That name sounded familiar. But if she was from the pack, there was no way I wouldn't know her.

"Are you from the pack?" I asked tentatively.

"Of course." She nodded. "But I've been away for a while and just returned, so it's normal that you don't recognize me."

Away for a while?

Just as I was puzzling over this, a gasp came from inside the fitting room:

"Oh my God! Seraphina? How did you come back?"

I turned to see Emma holding the veil. She was staring wide-eyed at Seraphina outside the door, the needles and thread falling from her hands to the floor.

"Emma, long time no see." Seraphina greeted warmly. "I just returned to the pack."

"Three years! A whole three years!" Emma's voice trembled with excitement. "You left so suddenly back then, we didn't even get to say goodbye. Alpha Damon was heartbroken for so long!"

My heart skipped a beat.

What were they talking about? What did they mean Damon was heartbroken for so long?

"Emma, let's not bring up the past." Seraphina said softly, but her eyes glanced at me. "Damon has new happiness now, doesn't he?"

Emma seemed to sense the awkward atmosphere and quickly shut her mouth.

"Seraphina, you said you've been away for a while," I gathered my courage to ask. "Do you... know Damon?"

Her smile became mysterious. "Know him? We're much more than acquaintances."

My heart beat even faster. "Then you two... what's your relationship?"

Seraphina didn't answer directly, instead looking me up and down. "You're nervous."

"I'm not nervous." I tried to stay calm. "I'm just curious. Damon never mentioned you to me."

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway.

"Lyanna! I can't wait to see you in the dress!"

My heart immediately raced. He was here! He was about to see me in the Luna dress!

I nervously smoothed my skirt, imagining his reaction when he saw me. He would definitely be speechless with amazement, then excitedly embrace me and tell me I was the most beautiful bride in the world.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but smile with anticipation.

The footsteps grew closer, and then Damon appeared around the corner of the hallway.

I looked at him expectantly, waiting for the amazement and praise in his eyes.

But when he saw the situation in the fitting room, he froze completely.

His gaze didn't fall on me.

He was looking at Seraphina.

In that instant, I felt like someone had punched me hard in the heart.

"Sera..." He softly called a name, his voice trembling.

Sera?

It felt so familiar.

I stood there in the most beautiful Luna dress, but he didn't even glance at me. All my anticipation and excitement turned to bubbles.

"You're back." Damon walked toward Seraphina, his tone carrying a tenderness I'd never heard before.

"Yes, I'm back." Seraphina smiled in response. "I missed you, Damon."

Missed you?!

She actually said she missed him right in front of me! And he... he didn't refuse, didn't explain, and there was even some emotion in his eyes that I couldn't understand.

I felt like a ghost, like a clown in fancy costume.

"How are you here?" Damon asked, his tone nervous and flustered.

"I heard you were having a Luna ceremony." Seraphina deliberately glanced at me, then said to Damon, "I wanted to see your... bride."

When she said the word "bride," there was a hint of mockery in her tone.

Only then did Damon remember my existence and turn to look at me. But his expression was complex—guilty, flustered, and evasive.

"Lyanna, you two have met?" he asked, his voice somewhat stiff.

"Just now." I tried to stay calm, even though my heart was in chaos. "Seraphina said she's an old friend of yours."

"Friend..." Damon repeated the word, looking pained. "Yes, friend."

But his tone didn't sound like he was talking about a friend at all.

Looking at the two of them, I felt like I was suffocating. The way they spoke, their eye contact, that understanding... how was this like friends?

"You look... beautiful in that dress." Damon finally spoke to me.

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

This was completely different from what I had imagined. I thought he would say I was breathtakingly beautiful, that he would excitedly lift me up, that he would say I was the most beautiful bride he'd ever seen.

But he just casually said "beautiful," then his gaze drifted back to Seraphina.

I felt suffocated, my eyes beginning to burn.

"Damon, could we talk privately?" Seraphina suddenly said. "There are some things I want to tell you."

I looked at Damon, my eyes full of hope and pleading.

But after hesitating for a few seconds, Damon actually nodded.

"Alright." He said, then looked at me. "Lyanna, you should change out of the dress first. We'll... we'll talk later."

I stood there dumbly, looking at him in disbelief. He actually wanted me to take off this dress I had carefully prepared for him, then go away so he could be alone with another woman?

Three days before our Luna ceremony?

"I..." I wanted to say something, but the words stuck in my throat.

What could I say? Could I say I wouldn't allow it? That would make me seem petty and unreasonable.

"Okay." I forced a smile, my voice as light as a feather. "You two talk."

I turned to leave, my hand unconsciously touching my chest. It hurt terribly there, as if something had torn it apart.

"Lyanna." Seraphina's voice came from behind me, gentle but meaningful. "That dress really suits you. I hope you can treasure this... happiness."

Her words sounded like a blessing, but I heard something else in them. As if she knew something I didn't, as if this happiness was fragile and could shatter at any moment.

I didn't look back and quickly walked toward the dressing room.

The moment I closed the door, I couldn't hold back anymore. Tears streamed down uncontrollably.

At that moment, I suddenly had an ominous feeling.